🚨BREAKING: After I first revealed a report into how the council manages its finances was being prepared by accounting firm EY, but being kept secret by Nottingham City Council, a subsequent appeal to the Information Commissioner's Office had ruled in our favour.
@Notts_TV
🚨 JUST IN: For the first time in history, Nottingham has no Conservative Party representation on the council.
Final results:
Labour - 51/55 seats
Nottingham Independents - 3/55
Independent - 1/55
#LDReporterNotts
@Notts_TV
EXCLUSIVE: Nottingham City Council spent more than £10,000 in legal fees fighting Julie Bindel (
@bindelj
), before it was concluded the authority had "unlawfully" cancelled her talk at Aspley Library back in June.
Full story on
@Notts_TV
👇
🚨BREAKING: Nottingham's executive councillors have agreed to make the City Ground land available for sale to Nottingham Forest.
Officers will now work with the club to conclude the transaction swiftly.
Story to follow
@Notts_TV
.
#NFFC
#LDReporter
🟢 Frank Adlington-Stringer, mayoral candidate for the Green Party, says the aim is to beat Reform UK.
He says he's been overwhelmed by the campaign, having been crowd-funded, but anticipates a Labour victory today.
#LDReporterNotts
@Notts_TV
🚨BREAKING: Ben Bradley (Con), who lost the race to become East Mids Mayor in May, has now lost his seat in Mansfield.
His remaining job is that of Notts County Council leader.
Labour's Steve Yemm has been elected as Mansfield's MP.
@Notts_TV
#LDReporterNotts
You know, seeing Nottingham as quiet as it is tonight isn't just eerie, it's actually quite sad.
Felt quite lonely and surreal walking around the city this evening.
Thought I recognised the unmistakable sound of the Lancaster's Rolls-Royce Merlin engines over Sleaford, Lincolnshire, today.
Always an incredible sight!
@RAFBBMF
🚨 A bit of personal news 🚨
Today is my last day at the Nottingham Post after four brilliant years! I'm leaving for
@Notts_TV
where I'll be continuing what I'm doing now but as a BBC Local Democracy Reporter...
#LDReporter
So pleased to have been highly commended in the Inspiring Local Journalism category at the
@ukaop
awards ceremony last night!
(I'm feeling a little worse for wear today, largely due to the free wine 😅).
1/ In the Commons
@NadiaWhittomeMP
questioned Govt on £20m Broad Marsh bid.
Says city is 11th most deprived district out of 317 in England, and adds: "Despite the clear need, not one of our bids were successful, yet the PM's own very wealthy constituency was awarded £19m.
Tomorrow's front.
@BorisJohnson
tells me he didn't break any promises - despite failing to deliver HS2 in full and a hub at Toton (which was a 2019 manifesto promise).
#TomorrowsPapersToday
👋Right, I'm done for a little while because I've become a dad (a dog dad)!
Meet Luna! 🐶
I'll be back for a day to cover Full Council on March 4, but it'll be nice to focus on something other than the world of local government for a while...
🗳Nottingham-only results:
Claire Ward surpassed Ben Bradley (in second) by 16,052 votes.
She got 51.3% of all valid votes in the city.
Full result pending.
#LDReporterNotts
@Notts_TV
EXCL: Very grateful to
@NadiaWhittomeMP
for sitting down for a chat with me at Blend in Sneinton Market today, where she spoke very openly about her PTSD diagnosis.
She will be returning to her duties as an MP for Nottingham East from tomorrow (Sept 6).
I submitted an FOI request to the council which revealed it spent £10,680 on legal fees before the case was settled. A public apology was issued alongside £569.99 to compensate losses for the cancelled event, including ticket prices.
🚨 JUST IN: Nottingham Castle prices have gone live on its website, detailing a £12 annual pass for adults.
"Pay once, visit all year round," the website says 👇
I've now officially started
@Notts_TV
as a BBC Local Democracy Reporter.
📌 If you want to get in touch you can now reach me on joe.locker
@nottstv
.com - and feel free to DM me 📌
NEW: Documents show Nottingham City Council has been losing roughly £66,000 PER WEEK on Nottingham Castle since it was inherited following the collapse of the Trust in November.
(Roughly £800k through lost concessionary income and holding fees)
Story on
@Notts_TV
soon.
📺 WATCH: How, after a lengthy six-month battle with Nottingham City Council, I managed to force its hand and get it to publish a report into how it manages its finances.
It all began at an inconspicuous meeting in April last year...
@Notts_TV
#LDReporter
Some personal news: I'm now officially a senior reporter for
@nottslive
, having passed a couple of very enjoyable exams (*sarcasm*).
Time for a drink 🍻
Congratulations also to my fantastic colleagues
@AToppingJourno
and
@phoeratweets
for passing theirs too!
After being escorted up a church tower by an 84y/o bell ringer (who used to be an RAF engineer on the De Havilland Vampire jets) - I managed to capture the moment the
@RAFBBMF
PA474 Lancaster flew over Ilkeston. Here it is 👇
@bindelj
told me: "They should have caved in when we first wrote to them and issued the same statement they should have given us four months earlier."
In response the council added: "We are taking steps to ensure that such a decision is not taken in this way again."
🚨 (Obligatory personal news claxon emoji) 🚨
Delighted and very excited to have landed the position of Agenda Editor for
@nottslive
. I'll soon be leading our politics and public affairs coverage.
Lots of responsibility and of great importance, I'm ready to get stuck in.
I've been at Bolsover Castle this morning with
@ClaireWard4EM
, where she's signed the mayoral declaration and has been chatting about her first day on the job.
More soon
@Notts_TV
#LDReporter
📚 NEW: I've been for a sneak peak inside the new Central Library with
@samhursttx
- and it looks fantastic.
It's finally opening on November 28 this year.
Full story on
@Notts_TV
soon.
#LDReporter
Hubbard Glacier, the largest tidewater glacier in North America - 76 miles long, seven miles wide and up to 600 ft in height.
Contrary to similar glaciers in the world, Hubbard Glacier is actually increasing in size.
@StormHour
@ThePhotoHour
@NatGeoPhotos
@EarthandClouds
#travel
🚍 Nottingham City Transport's boss tells me it will be a "grave" step backwards if the City Council presses ahead with budget plans to turn off real-time information at bus stops and close two park and ride sites.
#LDReporter
FULL STORY
@Notts_TV
👉
Same time, same route, same city.
More than 2 months later, I took yet another stroll through Nottingham on the very evening pubs and bars reopened.
A timelapse of Nottingham on
#SuperSaturday
...
No, I haven't got a new job in construction, I've actually been INSIDE the ruins of the Broadmarsh Centre.
...and it was utterly fascinating.
A series of stories will be posted on
@nottslive
throughout the weekend. Stay frosty.
Actually terrifying this was 2 years ago to the day.
Unsettling indeed but does anyone else miss those (state-approved) walks in the evening when the streets were blissfully silent?
@bindelj
@Notts_TV
Hi Julie, 'Settlement' (compensation) is the wording used in the council FOI response. We will amend to reflect what you've told us too.
How's Ben Bradley, the Conservative Party's candidate for East Mids mayor, feeling this morning?
"Meh," he says, shrugging.
#LDReporterNotts
#LDReporter
This morning I sat down with
@BorisJohnson
for an interview regarding
#HS2
.
I pressed him on the broken promise of a HS2 hub at Toton, as well as uncertainty for residents in surrounding areas and timescales of when we may see action.
Stories to follow on
@nottslive
shortly.
🗳 Thread! Really quite proud of what the team at
@Notts_TV
has achieved in the run-up to the General Election on July 4.
We've visited all 11 constituencies across Notts and have interviewed *most* of the candidates standing in each area.
Each profile below ⬇️⬇️
#LDReporter
Round of applause for Cllr Nick Raine, who called on people and organisations to "face down fascism" amid the violence and disorder across the country.
He criticises Ashfield's Reform MP, Lee Anderson, branding him a "brainless bigot".
Having now been inside
@NottmCastle
, I can say I think it is absolutely remarkable.
An intriguing asset to the city only made more elegant and wondrous by the staggering work that has taken place over the past 3 years.
My thoughts on
@nottslive
👇
Back in for the day to cover Nottingham Full Council this afternoon, where we're expecting a very difficult budget to be approved.
I've got a little helper with me this time...
#LDReporter
@Notts_TV
❗️NEW: You'll begin to see tap&pay points pop up in the city, where you can tap your card and donate to directly help those who are homeless in Nottingham.
@emmanuel_house_
,
@NottinghamBID
,
@MyNottingham
& more supporting it.
Full story on
@Notts_TV
:
Genuinely honoured (and a bit teary) to have won the
@newsmediaorg
Cathryn Nicoll award at
@EditorsUK
#RegionalPressAwards
this year. A huge thank you to the judges, and of course everyone at
@nottslive
who have supported and put their confidence in me since the very beginning.
🚨 All 4 councils (Nottm, Notts, Derby & Derbys) have agreed to the creation of an East Mids Combined Authority.
The £1.14bn devolution deal will see the election of a mayor & will help bring ~£4bn of investment on transport, environment, housing & more.
#LDReporter
@Notts_TV
#TomorrowsPapersToday
Exactly three weeks to the day crime commissioner Caroline Henry appeared in court and admitted to 5 speeding offences, she launches a new board to hold Nottinghamshire Police to account.
@AlexNorrisNN
says it shows how untenable her position is.
📚 It has been over 3 years since the closure of the old Central Library in Angel Row - during which time Nottingham was left without one at all.
But after delays, the new £10m Central Library opened today to the delight of visitors.
READ MORE
@Notts_TV
:
Local bus services have been neglected for far too long.
🚌 Change starts now 🚌
This new Government will deliver better buses up and down the country by giving every community the power to take back control of their local services.
Appalling conditions on
@EastMidRailway
's services today.
I know of two services where the air-con is not working. Windows can't be opened. Dirt, food and bottles over the floors.
It's not acceptable, particularly on days like today.
Here's another little timelapse video of a walk from Hockley into Old Market Square, the night before new
#COVID19
rules are formally introduced.
Wet, quiet and lacking in vibrancy, people have been left wondering just how their favourite venues will survive...
A tangerine sunset shot whilst travelling along the Alaska Marine Highway. Founded in 1963 to promote business in Alaska, it covers over 3,500 miles from its southern base of Seattle to the northern reaches of the last frontier.
#ThePhotoHour
#StormHour
@EarthandClouds
#travel
EXCL: Your first ever look at the "extraordinary" new vision for the Broad Marsh, in today's Post.
This is a sneak preview - and we'll have even more juicy details for you later this morning on
@nottslive
.
🚨 BREAKING: The Ernst & Young report, detailing serious concerns over Nottingham City Council's financial management, has been published.
This follows an appeal to the Information Commissioner's Office, which ruled in my favour.
@Notts_TV
#LDReporter
I went out to Bulwell to speak to
@Brownskinjessie
's family after her terrific lift in the
#Tokyo2020
#Olympics
Proper lovely, down-to-earth family who were elated to say the least!
Here's what they had to say just hours after Emily made history...
Nottm City Council has outlined options for the future of 3 under-threat libraries.
It looks like a ray of hope, and it's primarily down to the work of campaign groups such as
@SaveNottmLib
and the thousands of people who stood against the plans.
But the fight isn't over yet...
🚨BREAKING: Leader of Nottingham City Council tells me a deal has been agreed in principle with Nottingham Forest for it to buy the freehold to the site.
It comes w/conditions to keep club at City Ground for "a long time to come".
Story below for
@Notts_TV
#LDReporter
@wesstreeting
tells me Labour would be "guided by" the Nottm maternity review in deciding on need for public inquiry.
@jackhawkski
, whose daughter Harriet would have been 8 on April 17, says he's delighted he's shown real understanding.
#LDReporter
STORY:
🎉 We've got party poppers erupting outside Loxley House this afto, as
@SaveNottmLib
campaigners celebrate the council reneging on plans to axe three libraries 🎉
Final (recommended) decision to be made from 2pm...
@Notts_TV
#LDReporter
We all wanted Nottingham Castle's grand reopening to be a success, but it has been marred by a raft of bad reviews, ticket price controversy, staff resignations and investigations.
So today we ask;
City Living
I was fortunate to get access to the roof of the new Nottingham College City Hub last week. Of all of them, this is the view that really felt unique....seeing the homes that are sandwiched between Canal Street and the Lace Market from above!
#Nottingham
This is great - particularly her pledge to build on the BBC-funded LDRS scheme.
"My Labour government would tax social media companies to create a fund to support local media and investigative journalism, building on the local democracy reporters scheme."
I've been at King's Mill Hospital today to speak with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer & shadow health secretary Wes Streeting.
We spoke about local government finance, maternity services, and more.
More
@Notts_TV
soon...
Harrowing, heartbreaking, but ultimately hopeful.
The Beekeeper of Aleppo
@NottmPlayhouse
was wonderfully told by those who genuinely cared about one of the most important issues of our time.
Remarkable.
Looks like Collin Street is being resurfaced after it was closed waaaay back in 2020 as part of the pedestrianisation of the area.
I'm intrigued to see it finished...
Currently in
#Nottingham
city centre, a few hours before Tier 2 restrictions come into place, and it is a ghost town.
A taxi driver tells me he has made some £20 so far.
#coronavirus
Really do feel privileged to be a part of the
@Notts_TV
team.
It's the happiest I've been in a working environment, and the brilliant way it gives young journalists and students a foothold makes me hopeful for local journalism in the future.
With local journalism becoming an endangered species, Nottingham is very lucky to have
@Notts_TV
. Along with training our students to become broadcasters, the channel has made their mark in over the past 10 years. Here’s some of their best moments…
NEW: I submitted a Freedom of Information request in July, asking for the publication of a report raising very serious concerns over Nottingham City Council's financial management.
A public interest test weighed against releasing the report.
@Notts_TV
Surprise! Goosey is back.
People tell me her new nesting place brings a little bit of the "Goose Fair spirit" back to
#Nottingham
in these trying times.
A Labour source tells me they're "confident" Claire Ward will become East Midlands mayor today.
She's just arrived at the Nottingham Tennis Centre. Result expected around or after 2.30pm.
#LDReporterNotts
@Notts_TV
I'm attending more & more planning meetings where developers are avoiding paying Section 106 financial contributions to local areas (money goes to affordable housing, open space, education, etc)
Doing an in-depth piece on this next week, it's a big issue.